Automotive Business Magazine – Q2 2026 – Digital edition - Magazine - Page 46
OPI N I O N
FLEET
Reducing high-CO2
grey fleet travel
in 2026
M
any businesses are
reporting an increase in
the ‘grey fleet’ since the
pandemic, with more
employees driving their
– often older and higherCO2-emission – personal
cars for business trips.
This should be a major
concern for companies irrespective of
size or sector.
Factors such as the growth of hybrid
working are driving this rise, which is
often not considered when businesses
design their mobility provision.
While allowing the grey fleet may
seem like an easy and convenient option,
it can lead to unmanaged business
travel – trips that are only assessed
and accounted for after the journey
has taken place and when the mileage
expense claim is submitted.
Providing appropriate alternative
mobility choices can help manage
costs, reduce unnecessary work trips,
and ensure employees have the right
insurance for business journeys while
reducing emissions by providing newer
and well-maintained vehicles.
There are many reasons why tracking
grey fleet travel – and seeking alternative
options where feasible – should be a key
priority for organisations in 2026.
A better employee experience
A travel policy that embraces the growing
range of new shared mobility options
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AUTOMOTIVE BUSINESS
Q2 2026
often results in a better overall employee
travel experience. What choices can
businesses offer employees so that they
don’t default to their personal car?
Membership to a local car club could
be a solution, depending on where
employees live and work, combined with
car hire when trips with longer durations
or to more remote locations are needed.
An analysis of 600 business users who
participated in car-sharing organisation
CoMoUK’s 2024 survey found that more
than one in five (21%) said that access
to an on-street car club helped them to
avoid using their personal car for work
trips. This is an increase from CoMoUK’s
2023 survey, when only 16% of members
said they were using a car club for
business travel.
Creating a tailored employee car club
solution at the office, with dedicated
vehicles on-site that are booked and
managed with easy-to-use apps, can
also offer an effective solution for
employees who come into the office.
Driving down emissions
Personal cars in the UK are now, on
average, almost 10 years old, according
to the RAC Foundation – meaning that
other travel options, especially shared
and public transport alternatives, are
likely to have a much lower carbon
footprint. Organisations may not realise
the potential impact of the grey fleet, as
many don’t even know how much of this
type of business travel is taking place.
